Three films made in Northern Ireland being released this summer
Date Posted: July 7, 2021
Three films made in Northern Ireland with the support of Northern Ireland Screen are hitting screens this summer; Colum Eastwood’s Black Medicine, Uberto Pasolini’s Nowhere Special and Chris Baugh’s Boys from County Hell.
Black Medicine will be released on digital platforms on Monday 12th July. The thriller, set in the heart of the Irish crime underbelly, stars Amybeth McNulty (Stranger Things), Orla Brady (Fringe, American Horror Story) and Antonia Campbell-Hughes (Kelly + Victor). Jo is a black-market medic who carries out illegal operations for the criminal underworld. When she gives refuge to a young girl, she must choose between breaking her medical oath or crossing her ruthless employers.
Black Medicine was written and directed by Lisburn native Colum Eastwood. The film was produced via Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus scheme, the scheme aims to deliver one debut feature by a Northern Ireland resident creative team (writer, director and producer) each year. Previous films to come through the scheme include Shelly Love’s A Bump Along the Way, Ryan and Andrew Tohill’s The Dig, Chris Baugh and Brendan Mullin’s Bad Day for the Cut.
Written and directed by Uberto Pasolini (The Full Monty) Nowhere Special will be released in cinemas on Friday 16th July. The film shot on location in Northern Ireland in 2019. Inspired by true events Nowhere Special features James Norton (Happy Valley, Mr. Jones, Little Women) as thirty five-year-old window cleaner John, who has dedicated his life to bringing up his son, after the child’s mother left them soon after giving birth. When John is given only a few months to live, he attempts to find a new, perfect family for his three-year-old son, determined to shield him from the terrible reality of the situation. John’s son is played by Daniel Lamont from Ballymena who makes his acting debut in the film. The film was produced by Belfast’s Chris Martin (Good Vibrations).
Next up is an unexpected and original spin on the vampire movie from writer/director Chris Baugh from a story by Baugh and Brendan Mullin. Boys From County Hell will be released in cinemas on Friday 6th August. With a fantastic cast, including Jack Rowan (Peaky Blinders, Noughts + Crosses), Louisa Harland (Derry Girls), Nigel O’Neill (from Baugh’s debut), and John Lynch (The Banishing, Isolation), Boys From County Hell is rich in celtic atmosphere, drenched in gore, wildly funny and splendidly scary. The film from the Tyrone duo has recently rated ‘fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes.
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said; “It is great to see three films made here in Northern Ireland being released across 4 weeks this summer and showcasing the wonderful talent we have here both in front of, and behind the camera. With a thriller, a heart-warming drama and a vampire film there’s surely something in there for everyone to enjoy.”
